Singapore holds emergency drill

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) held a full-day emergency preparedness exercise involving the evacuation of around 700 passengers and crew from a Star Cruises ship on 11 July.

Code named Exercise Blue Dolphin 2014, the exercise was designed to ensure various both Star Cruises and various Singaporean agencies are equipped to handle mass evacuations and emergencies on passenger vessels in the Port of Singapore.

More than 1,000 personnel from 21 agencies and companies participated in the drill, including the Police Coast Guard, Singapore Tourism Board, SATS-Creuers Cruise Services, Singapore Cruise Centre, Singapore Island Cruise and the Sindo Ferry.

“As a major hub port along a very busy waterway, Singapore takes the safety of vessels and passengers seriously,” said Andrew Tan, MPA’s chief executive. “The exercise today gives us an excellent opportunity to test our inter-agency response to any major emergencies at sea involving real assets and people. We cannot take safety for granted and it involves everyone playing their part.”

Taking place in the Eastern Holding Anchorage, around 4.5 kilometres from Marina South Pier and the Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore, the exercise simulated a fire in the ship’s engine room as it sailed towards Singapore. The ship’s master reported the incident to MPA’s Port Operations Control Centre and requested for assistance to extinguish the fire and evacuate the passengers and crew. Once evacuated from the ship, the passengers and crew were taken to the landing point at Marina South Pier, which would be used as a medical point in the event of a real emergency. The Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore would also be used as a temporary refuge area.

Singapore holds emergency drill